We studied damage to wool fabrics dyed with different natural and chemical dyestuffs by the larvae of varied carpet beetle, Anthrenus verbasci, as part of a study on the functions of natural dyestuffs. Eight of ten natural dyestuffs showed an antifeeding effect against A. verbasci. Strength of the antifeeding effect of natural dyestuffs in a feeding preference test was in the order lac dye, gallnut, catechu, red cabbage, Cricula cocoon extract > cochineal, indigo, Amur cork tree extract > chemical dye. Lithospermi radix and turmeric were less effective against A. verbasci. The damage to dyed fabrics by the insect was not related to the extent of color depth or shade of the dyed fabric. Water-soluble substances having absorption peaks at around 280 nm, commonly were present in the natural dyestuffs except for turmeric. The polyphenols, tannic acid and catechin having absorption peaks at around 280 nm, seemed to be not related with the antifeeding effect. An alkali degummed Cricula cocoon sample that had almost all of the cocoon filament sericin removed showed almost the same level of damage by insect feeding as that of natural Cricula cocoons.